Brewers Clinch NL Central Despite Loss

The Milwaukee Brewers dropped Sunday’s matchup 5-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals, but the real victory came off the field as they clinched their third consecutive National League Central crown. Milwaukee sealed the division after the second-place Chicago Cubs fell 1-0 to the Cincinnati Reds. Offensively, the Brewers managed little against Matthew Liberatore, who limited them to one run and five hits over five innings. Joey Ortiz tripled and Jackson Chourio drove in the only run on a sacrifice fly. Robert Gasser and Erick Fedde combined to allow five runs across seven innings. For St. Louis, Jose Fermin plated three RBIs while Ivan Herrera belted a two-run homer to secure the series. Even in defeat, the Brewers celebrated another title, rewarding bettors who backed them early in the division futures market. How to bet on baseball.

Blue Jays 8, Royals 5

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Andres Gimenez drove in two runs apiece as Toronto clinched its fourth postseason berth in six years. The Blue Jays snapped a four-game skid in which they scored just three total runs, breaking out behind an eight-hit night against Michael Wacha, who surrendered six earned runs. George Springer and Ernie Clement each collected two hits, while four relievers combined to hold Kansas City to a single run. For the Royals, Salvador Perez reached 1,012 career RBIs, tying Hal McRae for second in franchise history. Kansas City closed its home slate at 43-38.

Reds 1, Cubs 0

The Cincinnati Reds stayed alive in the wild-card chase by blanking the Cubs for a sweep. Gavin Lux provided the lone RBI with a third-inning double, while four pitchers combined to allow just six hits. Nick Martinez was especially sharp, tossing 2 1/3 perfect frames in relief. Jameson Taillon pitched well for Chicago, allowing just one run over seven innings, but the Cubs’ offense faltered. Cincinnati extended its win streak to five and pulled into a tie for the final NL wild-card spot, rewarding bettors backing their late-season surge. MLB playoff betting guide.

Twins 6, Guardians 2

Brooks Lee blasted a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning and Royce Lewis followed with a pinch-hit three-run shot in the seventh as Minnesota ended Cleveland’s 10-game winning streak. The Twins snapped their five-game skid behind timely power and a balanced attack that included two hits from Kody Clemens. Cleveland struck first with a leadoff homer from Steven Kwan but managed only three singles the rest of the way. Both starters battled: Simeon Woods Richardson worked five innings for Minnesota while Cleveland’s bats let Tanner Bibee’s solid effort go to waste.

Yankees 7, Orioles 1 (10 innings)

Ben Rice delivered the big blow with a 10th-inning grand slam, lifting New York to a crucial road win in Baltimore. Rice went 4-for-5 with five RBIs, carrying a Yankees offense that erupted for six runs in extra innings. David Bednar earned the win with a scoreless ninth, while Kyle Bradish gave Baltimore a strong six-inning outing before the bullpen unraveled. New York secured three of four in the series and closed the gap to just two games behind Toronto in the AL East. For bettors, the Yankees remain a strong late-season value when backed as short underdogs. MLB betting basics.

Pirates 11, Athletics 0

Pittsburgh closed its home schedule in emphatic fashion, blasting Oakland behind four-hit performances from Joey Bart and Jared Triolo, who combined for five RBIs. The Pirates’ staff recorded their MLB-leading 19th shutout of the season, holding Oakland scoreless in the final 22 innings of the series. Carmen Mlodzinski earned the win in relief after Mike Burrows opened with four innings. Oakland’s Mitch Spence was shelled for seven runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Padres 3, White Sox 2

Michael King threw five-plus scoreless innings and the Padres held off a late White Sox rally to trim their magic number to two for a playoff berth. San Diego took two of three in Chicago despite a shaky seventh inning where reliever Mason Miller walked in two runs before escaping further trouble. The Padres’ depth pitching staff kept the lead intact as Chicago dropped its eighth in nine games.

Braves 6, Tigers 2

Ha-Seong Kim homered and drove in two runs to lead Atlanta to its eighth straight victory. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Drake Baldwin each had two hits and an RBI, supporting Spencer Strider, who delivered five shutout innings. Detroit stranded 13 runners and managed only two late runs in the ninth, continuing its slump with a sixth straight loss.

Handicapper Spotlight – MLB (Last 7 Days)

• Sports Investors: 4-0, 100% win rate, +$512 net profit.
• SAS Insider: 7-3, 70% win rate, +$283 net profit.
• Tyler Williams: 4-2, 66.7% win rate, +$190 net profit.

This week’s leaders highlight the value of selectivity and discipline. Sports Investors posted a perfect card, while SAS Insider and Tyler Williams kept strong positive returns. See more MLB betting strategies to sharpen your edge during the playoff push.

Nationals 3, Mets 2

Jacob Young made two highlight-reel catches in center field and Nasim Nuñez launched a two-run homer as Washington edged New York. Young robbed extra bases in the fifth and preserved the win by stealing a game-tying homer in the ninth. Jake Irvin earned his first win since July, while the Mets’ offense faltered despite a homer from Francisco Lindor. The loss pulled New York into a tie with Cincinnati for the final NL wild-card spot, complicating their postseason chase.

Rockies 3, Angels 1

Blaine Crim homered and Kyle Freeland struck out seven over six strong innings as Colorado defeated Los Angeles. The Rockies finished their home slate at 25-56, the worst in franchise history. For the Angels, Mike Trout doubled in one of seven hits, while rookie Cade Dana took the loss after yielding two runs in six innings.

Giants 3, Dodgers 1

San Francisco avoided a sweep in Los Angeles with a late rally sparked by Patrick Bailey’s RBI double. Rookie starter Trevor McDonald impressed with six-plus innings of one-run ball in his MLB debut. Matt Chapman added an RBI groundout and Willy Adames forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk. Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan struck out 10 and allowed just one hit in seven innings, but reliever Blake Treinen gave up three runs in the eighth.

Diamondbacks 9, Phillies 2

Corbin Carroll etched his name into franchise history by becoming the first Arizona player to post a 30-HR, 30-SB season. He homered and stole his 30th bag as part of a dominant win over Philadelphia. Eduardo Rodriguez pitched six scoreless innings, and rookie Jorge Barrosa hit his first career homer. Arizona pulled within a game of the Mets and Reds for the final wild-card spot. Philadelphia’s Ranger Suárez was tagged for six runs in four innings. MLB playoff betting keys.

Marlins 4, Rangers 2

Otto Lopez led Miami’s balanced attack with three hits and an RBI as the Marlins completed their second straight sweep. Miami’s bullpen shut Texas down after Eury Pérez threw four shutout innings. The Marlins have now won 10 of their past 11 to stay alive in the playoff race. For Texas, Merrill Kelly struggled again as the Rangers’ skid reached seven.

Mariners 7, Astros 3

J.P. Crawford hit a grand slam and Cal Raleigh belted his MLB-best 58th homer as Seattle swept Houston to tighten its grip on the AL West. Logan Gilbert backed the offense with six innings of one-run ball. Houston’s Jason Alexander lasted less than two innings, allowing seven runs. The Mariners have now won 14 of 15, making them one of the most profitable teams for bettors in September. MLB run line betting guide.

Rays 7, Red Sox 3

Christopher Morel drove in four runs and Brandon Lowe launched his 30th homer as Tampa Bay ended its skid against Boston. Chandler Simpson added two hits and his 43rd stolen base. Boston rookie Connelly Early suffered his first loss, giving up three runs in four innings. The Rays snapped an eight-game losing streak versus Boston in their home finale.